Mercy General Safe Kids Program Receives Generous Gift

Representatives from JAAR Inc. McDonalds, Michigan Department of Community Health, Norton Shores Fire Department, West Shore Family Medicine, Safe Kids/Mercy Health Partners were on hand April 30 to accept a gift of more than $14,000 from Ronald McDonald House Charities of Outstate Michigan for the Safe Kids Muskegon program.

With this gift, Safe Kids will be able to ensure that area newborns are transported home in an appropriate child safety seat, provide hundreds of area-wide safety seat inspections, purchase and distribute more than 220 car seats, and train additional Child Passenger Safety Technicians.

Holly Alway, MHP’s Safe Kids Coordinator, reports that the demand for car seats is up 500% over the past year. She attributes this to the economy and the fact that fewer families are able to afford to purchase safety seats. She also says that the community is becoming more and more aware that restraining a child in a properly installed safety seat can save a life.

In 2005 the Michigan Child Death State Advisory Team reported, 251 Michigan children died in 2002-2003 in motor vehicle crashes and 39% of all children killed in motor vehicle collisions do not wear a seatbelt or use a car seat. Additionally, 21% of all children killed in a motor vehicle collision were not correctly restrained in a car seat.

“Thanks to Ronald McDonald Charities of Outstate Michigan, we’re able to live our mission and improve the lives of our community with this gift,” says Mary Boyd, Chief Business Development Officer.